Medicine
Hydrogen water: water enriched with hydrogen and health
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Ainhoa Pérez
Alumni
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MPH, MSc.
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Hydrogen water, or hydrogen-enriched water, is ordinary water to which hydrogen (H2) has been added through treatment. Although it has always been considered a neutral element, hydrogen administered through various routes has shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in preclinical studies and experimental animal studies. The administration of hydrogen through enriched water may make it more accessible to the body than hydrogen present in ordinary water bound to oxygen, which could limit its bioavailability. In addition, research has been conducted in humans in recent years to evaluate its therapeutic potential for health.
A recent systematic review (Dhillon et al., 2024) evaluated the potential benefits of hydrogen water on various clinical and health conditions based on 25 human studies, including experimental studies and other designs. The parameters analyzed included the impact of hydrogen-enriched water on physical exercise, oxidative stress, cardiovascular health, COVID-19, kidney disease, cancer, mental health, liver function, and aging.
Preliminary clinical trials suggest that consuming hydrogen-rich water may reduce inflammatory responses and increase antioxidant capacity, which has potentially beneficial effects on various physiological systems and conditions. For example, improved endothelial function measured by tonometry has been found, with vasomotor responses being predictive of prognosis in different cardiovascular conditions. Symptomatic improvements have also been found in patients with unstable angina. In addition, changes in the lipid profile have been found.
Hydrogen has also been found to be therapeutic in COVID and various lung conditions, improving respiratory parameters. Some studies show that it can improve kidney function and reduce oxidative stress in dialysis patients. Improved liver function and reduced oxidative stress were also observed in patients with hepatitis B and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, improvements in several biomarkers of aging have been documented in older people who consumed hydrogen-rich water for six months. On the other hand, the consumption of hydrogen-enriched water before exercise has not shown conclusive results in terms of improving performance or reducing fatigue.
In conclusion, this systematic review suggests that hydrogen-enriched water has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions, which may be potentially relevant in various clinical conditions. However, although several mechanisms of action that could be potentially therapeutic have been characterized, empirical studies are still very limited, and the number of studies evaluating clinically relevant aspects is still low. Therefore, although there is therapeutic potential, there are currently not enough studies to draw firm conclusions on any aspect. Further studies in various clinical applications are needed to provide empirical evidence in humans to objectively assess the effects in different populations and pathologies.
A recent systematic review (Dhillon et al., 2024) evaluated the potential benefits of hydrogen water on various clinical and health conditions based on 25 human studies, including experimental studies and other designs. The parameters analyzed included the impact of hydrogen-enriched water on physical exercise, oxidative stress, cardiovascular health, COVID-19, kidney disease, cancer, mental health, liver function, and aging.
Preliminary clinical trials suggest that consuming hydrogen-rich water may reduce inflammatory responses and increase antioxidant capacity, which has potentially beneficial effects on various physiological systems and conditions. For example, improved endothelial function measured by tonometry has been found, with vasomotor responses being predictive of prognosis in different cardiovascular conditions. Symptomatic improvements have also been found in patients with unstable angina. In addition, changes in the lipid profile have been found.
Hydrogen has also been found to be therapeutic in COVID and various lung conditions, improving respiratory parameters. Some studies show that it can improve kidney function and reduce oxidative stress in dialysis patients. Improved liver function and reduced oxidative stress were also observed in patients with hepatitis B and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, improvements in several biomarkers of aging have been documented in older people who consumed hydrogen-rich water for six months. On the other hand, the consumption of hydrogen-enriched water before exercise has not shown conclusive results in terms of improving performance or reducing fatigue.
In conclusion, this systematic review suggests that hydrogen-enriched water has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions, which may be potentially relevant in various clinical conditions. However, although several mechanisms of action that could be potentially therapeutic have been characterized, empirical studies are still very limited, and the number of studies evaluating clinically relevant aspects is still low. Therefore, although there is therapeutic potential, there are currently not enough studies to draw firm conclusions on any aspect. Further studies in various clinical applications are needed to provide empirical evidence in humans to objectively assess the effects in different populations and pathologies.
#Water #hydrogenwater #hydrogen
References:
Dhillon G, et al. Hydrogen Water: Extra Healthy or a Hoax?-A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jan 12;25(2):973. doi: 10.3390/ijms25020973.
* The news published on studies do not represent an official position of ICNS, nor a clinical recommendation.
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